Sony's humanoid robot learns to run

It can sing, it can dance and now it can run. Sony Corp. has developed a new version of its "Qrio" humanoid robot that is capable of running -- a first for such a robot according to Sony, which demonstrated it in Tokyo on Thursday.

Until now, humanoid robots have used a motion control system that has, as its base, the requirement that one foot remain in contact with the ground when moving. That's much like the way humans walk but not like the way we run, when both feet leave the ground.

To allow for a more natural movement, a team at the company's Digital Creatures Laboratory developed a new control software system that allows the robot to take both feet off the ground, said Toshitada Doi, president of the laboratory, at a news conference. Higher power actuators were also developed to allow for the faster movement.

The result is a slightly more natural and certainly more amusing movement that represents a breakthrough in robot research but shouldn't be the cause of too many sleepless nights for Olympic athletes.

For a start, Qrio can't start from the blocks like athletes but needs to work up to running speed. It takes steps that, over a period of about 10 seconds, get progressively faster until running speed is achieved. That speed is a fairly sedate 14 meters per minute, which is more akin to a slow jog than running, and at present the robot can only manage this for between 3 meters and 4 meters before stopping.

Part of the reason for Qrio's leisurely pace is that its feet are only both off the ground for around 20 milliseconds when running. To get it running faster, the team will have to work on maintaining balance while lengthening this period.

The company also showed a version of the robot that can grip a ball and throw it, which is something it could not do until now. This requires coordination of the throwing action and finger control so that the ball is released at the right time, while simultaneously maintaining balance as the center of gravity shifts around.

Last year, Sony talked about the possibility of selling Qrio, which used to be called the SDR (Sony Dream Robot), but on Thursday said it had no concrete plans to put the robot on sale. Representatives wouldn't be drawn on a theoretical price for Qrio should it be offered, although in the past they have said it might cost around the price of a small car.

Sony recently made Qrio a "corporate ambassador" and now uses it at events around the world to amuse and entertain clients while demonstrating the technology that has gone into its development. Some of its first duties included appearing at the company's Sony Dream World event in Paris, CeBIT Asia in Shanghai and an event marking the third anniversary of the company's ExploroScience center in Beijing, China.

IDG News Service

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